Expression studies on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in sea bream: effects of growth hormone, somatostatin, salinity and temperature.

In the present study, the gene encoding hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) was cloned and characterized from silver sea bream (Sparus sarba). The deduced amino acid sequence from sea bream g6pdh shared 78-84% homology with deduced amino acid sequences from previously cloned teleost g6pdh genes. A reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) coupled with radioisotope hybridization method was used for assessment of g6pdh expression and it was found that administration of growth hormone to sea bream increased g6pdh transcript and G6PDH activity whereas injections of somatostatin decreased both of these parameters. It was also found that sea bream maintained at an isoosmotic salinity (12 ppt) and cold temperature (12 degrees C) displayed upregulated g6pdh expression and enhanced G6PDH activtity. The results from this study demonstrate that g6pdh expression can be mediated by both hormonal and environmental factors in teleosts.